THE BOY FOR THE FARM.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 163, 3 April 1908, Page 11

THE BOY FOR THE FARM.

> , NOT TOTVN-BRED. -.. (BY -r«t»OEAPH.r-PBl»8'• ASSOCIATION.) . Chrlstohurch,,April :1. A-witness in the form-labourers''dispute yesterday went to some pains to show the usfeldsshess ofv a town-bred ' toy,.' .compared, ■with'/'a 1 country.; boy,at 'farm work.: /Ho said that a _boy from town, who had attended- a; primary- school, and, had been "topped oft." at a high school, .would bo a, , v6ry.: unprofitable, employee'to a farmer, while: a- boy brought up in the country was invaluable. To keep ja boy 'at; school until he was sfiveriteenVbr eighteen, .and then send, him i'to ■ a*'farm';- was simply to ruin'. him.. : T6' ; illustrate the varying values of : boys, he instanced the case of 011 c of his own employees, who was " a good boy in evory way.;" but ■ one,- . to ~ whom he would, never dream of paying . 6d! ;in' wages. . Another boy, only, two years older, was'receiving 2os. a' week., . Surely you do not condemn l education?''.said tho chairman. .

- .''..l think,"r replied- .the witness, • " that ■we are, a little, wrong in our education ■ system. I would like a boy when he has passed the Sixth . Standard, instead ■ of' going, into towij, to lose to go into, the l coun- : tiy,!.\yherc he will be practically attending a technical /school.' - The-. town' boy-loses any amount of time.- in the ; morning,- ; when lie could be picking up hints on the farm.- If-ho could be on tho farm between 7 and 9 o'clock in "the morning, and then to : a 1 high . school near: at hand, it would be all right:"